The SLXtreme 5 is a rugged case that has it all; backup battery, waterproof, shockproof, and a low-power solar panel for those times when you're off the grid. The SLXtreme 5 is a massive case, easily tripling the size and weight of your iPhone 5/5s. It installs in seconds, however, thanks to a sturdy and well-engineered latch. The case is engineered to fit your iPhone perfectly.

Features and Quality

The SLXtreme 5 is easily the most rugged and versatile case I've every reviewed. It's waterproof (IP68 certified to 2m), its rugged (810G for drops from 2m), it has a massive 2550mAh backup battery, and it rounds out its feature list with an actual solar panel for trickle-charging! Now, every time you add a feature, you add to the complexity of the case, and exponentially increase the chance that things will go wrong. I've been using the SLXtreme for a week now, and I am happy to report that everything works as advertised.

It's big, though, REALLY big. This is not an everyday case, and its not billed as one. This is a case to clip to your kayak, backpack, or manly wilderness beard. It's a case you reach for when you absolutely intend to subject your phone to the harshest environmental conditions. It really shines, however, for those times when you go off the grid, thanks to the included solar panel. Keep in mind, however, this panel is intended to keep your iPhone working for minimal and/or emergency use only due to its slow charge rate; about 2%/hour of sunlight. This may not seem like much, but that will give you 10-15 minutes of talk time, which is a LOT better than 0 minutes of talk time. Of course, the internal battery and your phone can both be charged via a mini USB port accessible by way of a second waterproof latch at the bottom of the case. The integrity of the case will be compromised during charging, though, so keep that in mind.

As with most other battery cases, the SLXtreme is smart enough to charge your phone before charging itself. As good as it is at fulfilling its mission of ultra protection and utility, it does have a few very small flaws. First, the charge port will not be accessible if you are using the included carabiner. Not only does it block the latch from opening, it actually blocks the charge port itself. A strange design decision, but not a dealbreaker. Second, you will have no access to your phone's mute switch when it is installed in the SLXtreme. This is likely more of an engineering issue rather than an oversight, but its worth mentioning regardless. Lastly, while its billed as waterproof, the SLXtreme should never be used to turn your iPhone into a dive camera as its only rated for 6m.

Style

As I've repeatedly noted in reviews for other products, rugged is a style all its own, and the SLXtreme has loads of it. In addition to its aggressive styling, it also comes in a variety of colors (yellow, orange, white, camo) to help you really stand out from the crowd of burly adventurers.

Summary

The SLXtreme is an iPhone case built for a specific job; to protect your device from harsh environmental conditions, and to keep you connected long, long after other cases have given-up the ghost. Its combination of ultra-rugged/waterproof design, coupled with its massive internal battery, and solar panel have effectively removed all of the reasons for leaving your phone at home when you head to the great outdoors.